Dignity

Do you remember the Deacon Blue song Dignity? It echoed through my mind as I heard the result of the Bradford City vs Swansea City League Cup final at Wembley today. Swansea won 5-0. But the sheer dignity of Bradford's fans as the club lost was phenomenal.

As the excellent manager, Phil Parkinson, noted, the wages of a single Swansea player would probably pay the entire wages bill of the entire Bradford squad. The gulf was enormous. But Bradford has done fantastically well for the city, the club, and the lowest Football League division.

The manager and players must enjoy the amazing achievement and now get down to promotion to the first division.

Massive kudos and credit to the club tonight. No shame. Keep it in perspective. Brilliant achievement. So proud.

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7 Responses to “Dignity”

A famous day! Further down the football lists I recall Whitby Town’s defeat of tinier N Ferriby in the silver vase at Wembly. Football engages the spirit and brings people together on such ocassions. We aspire together, and that is invaluable.

Anyone with a connection to Bradford can hold their heads up high today. For years a spirit of negativity has gripped Bradford, yesterday was for me another step towards resurrection for the City of Bradford.

As a proud Bradfordian in the South West I was struck by my own overwhelming sense of emotion & pride towards a City that I remain passionate about.

The people of Bradford have won the hearts of the nation through the bantams cup run. They need to grasp this opportunity to redefine & reimagin what the future could look like. Your Synod meeting on Saturday for me is another step on the journey towards of Bradford being ‘born again’, growing up ‘ grasping the exciting opportunity that could unfold. This year Bradford has dared to dream & dared to believe as a result great thinks have happened & it mustn’t stop now. Thank you for your passionate leadership too.

Not so sure the Scots fans would be so dignified after their rugby win over Ireland yesterday. Though most of us were saying “How did that happen?” Hard on the Irish who worked so hard. But usually the fans of both sides celebrate and commiserate together quite happily afterwards.
Well done, Bradford football team and fans! Just shows that you don’t have to pay footballers and managers ridiculous salaries to get impressive results. I wish them every success in the future.

I follow Swansea, as I did in 1979-80, when they topped the First Division under John Toshack. This, in my humble opinion, is a better team by far, who, on their day can make pure minced meat out of any opposition. So, hold your heads high, Bradford. Yesterday was a celebration of rejuvenation for two of Britain’s oldest industrial towns.